Flap fastener



D. J. BROUGHTON "2,789,614

FLAP FASTENER Filed June 14, 1955 April 23, 1957 INVENTOR. DOUGLAS J. BROUGHT'ON f 5% *JM" ATTO RN VEIYS quired but should be sufficient in number to firmly anchor the channel to the fiap and cooperate with the clamping action of the channel walls in resisting displacement of the channel.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the fastener member formed on the extension 34 may be the socket member as indicated at 40, the socket being formed by a plurality of spaced spring tongues 41 struck from the metal of extension 34 and adjacent portion of wall 31. As will be understood, in the form of Figs. 7 and 8 the receptacle wall will be overlapped by the closure flap and will be provided with a conventional post member engageable by the socket 40 to releasably secure the receptacle closed.

In disengaging the fastener member to swing flap 24 to the open position of Fig. 2, when the edge of the flap is engaged by the thumb to disengage the fastener elements there is no tendency to curl, crease or locally distort the edge of the flap, the channel walls including extension 34 acting as a rigid second class lever system assisting in the disengagement of the members, this leverage being effective when the opening pressure is applied at any point on the channel to assist in disengaging the fastener elements and to confine-the bending of the flap to a free fold of substantial radius entirely across the flap along line AA of Fig. 1 if the opening force is applied to channel 30 in line with extension 34 in which case the leverage is along the extension or along lines BB or C-C of Fig. 1 if the opening force is applied to the channel at one side or the other of the extension,

in which case the leverage is along both the channel and its extension with fulcrums at the ends of the extension and that end of the channel brought into engagement with the purse wall. The relative narrowness of the extension 34, its freedom from surface connection to the flap and the remoteness of its end from the ends of channel 30 leaves the material of the flap inwardly of the channel free to flex in a natural fold of substantial curvature.

Further, the channel and extension 34 maintains the flap fiat when in closed position resisting any tendency of the flap to curl or be wrinkled or creased in use of the receptacle thus preventing the flap from becoming dog-earred or curled and in general preserving the neat appearance and prolonging the useful life of the receptacle.

In practice the channel will be formed of polished, plated or enameled metal, thereby giving an enhanced and characteristic appearance to the receptacle.

It will be understood that various structural modifications may be made in the application of the invention, for example, as shown in the application of the invention to flap 45 which closes the billfold, the channel member may be replaced by a flat bar member 46, secured to the inner face of the flap along the long grasping edge 47 of the flap as by cementing it within a turned over edge extension 48 of the flap. Bar member 46 is formed with an extension 49 corresponding in function to extension 34. A fastener element 50 corresponding with either element 39 or 40 may be integrally formed adjacent the extremity of extension 49 to cooperate with a mating fastener element, indicated in dotted lines at 51, on the rear wall of the billfold.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms of receptacles illustratively shown in the drawing and may be used with equal advantage with various constructed receptacles including key cases,

vanities, cigarette cases, small evening bags, clutchbags and the like.

4 I What is claimed is:

1. In a receptacle such as purses, key cases, pass cases, billfolds and the like having an opening, a flap closing said opening and substantially equal in width to the length of said opening and foldable into overlapping relation with a wall of the receptacle to close the opening, a two element post and socket snap fastener for releasably holding the flap in said overlapping relation, one element of said fastener being carried by said wall inwardly of the grasping edge of the flap when said flap is in overlapping relation with said wall, a substantially rigid bar member secured to and extending along a major part of the grasping edge of the flap and having an integral extension extending beneath the flap in contact with the undersurface thereof and extending across and beyond the said fastener element carried by said wall when the fiap is in closed position, the second element of said snap fastener being carried by said extension inwardly of but adjacent the free end thereof and remote from the ends and outer edge of the bar member and positioned at the load point of a second class lever system formed by the bar and said extension to confine the bending of the flap to a substantially free fold of substantial radius extending from one side of the flap to the other.

2. In a receptacle such as purses, key cases, pass cases, billfolds and the like having an opening, a flap closing said opening and substantially equal in width to the length of said opening and foldable into overlapping relation with a wall of the receptacle to close the opening, atwo element post andsocket snap fastener for releasably holding the flap in said overlapping relation, one element of said fastener being carried by said wall in- -wardly of the grasping edge of the flap when said flap is in overlapping relation with said wall, the major portion of said edge being straight, a metal channel bar member, coextensive in length with said straight edge portion, the opposite walls of said channel member overlapping opposite sides of the flap adjacent said edge, the inner and outer walls of the channel being bent into gripping engagement with the flap, the inner wall of said member having an integral extension extending beneath the flap in contact with but free from the undersurface of the flap and extending across and beyond the said fastener element carried by said wall when the flap is in closed position, the second element of said snap fastener being carried by said extension inwardly of but adjacent the free end thereof and remote from the ends and free edges of the channel member and positioned at the load point of a second class lever system formed by the channel and said extension to confine the bending of the flap to a substantially free fold of substantial radius extending from one side of the flap to the other.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, in which the fastener element carried by the extension is integrally formed from the metal of the extension.

4. The combination recited in claim 2 in which the inner wall of the channel member is provided with prongs engaging in the material of the flap, said prongs comprising the raw edges of inwardly pierced openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

